March 12, 2007
Cullowhee, N.C. - Following a week of waiting, the Western Carolina Lady Catamount basketball team will discover its post-season destination tonight (Monday, March 12) as both the NCAA and Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) brackets are announced.
The 2007 Women's NCAA Selection Show will air on ESPN beginning at 8:00 pm, with continued coverage at 9:00 pm on ESPNU. The WNIT brackets will be announced via the organizing group's website, www.womensnit.com. The pairings will also be posted on www.CatamountSports.com.
Western (23-9) continues to hold out hope for an at-large bid to the NCAA Field of 64 is guaranteed a position in the WNIT after winning a share of the Southern Conference women's basketball regular season championship, the first in school history. The Lady Cats were the top seed in the SoCon Tournament by virtue of its regular season sweep of eventual tourney champion, Chattanooga.
In the women's NCAA bracket, 33 teams earn at large bids with 31 garnering automatic nods by virtue of capturing tournament championships. Likewise, a total of 31 teams are assured of automatic bids to the WNIT, which expanded its field to 48 this season to accommodate at least one bid to each NCAA conference.
In the latest Collegiate Basketball News RPI Rating (updated Sunday, March 11), Western Carolina ranked 70th with the 110th-toughest schedule this season with the Southern Conference ranking 14th overall as a league. In the most recent Jeff Sagarin/CBN Women's College Basketball Ratings (updated Monday, March 12) ranked WCU 100th, third overall in the Southern Conference which ranks 16th out of 32 conferences ranked, including independents.
Under the direction of the SoCon Coach of the Year, Kellie Harper, Western has already put together a record-breaking season. The Lady Catamounts have amassed a school-record 23 wins overall and 15 victories in league play, garnering the top seed in the conference championship for the first-time ever. WCU will make its second post-season trip since becoming an NCAA Division I program in 1981.
Check back with CatamountSports.com later this evening for a full recap of the post-season selection process.
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